McNeese State at Northern Iowa

[JohnStOnge]

If a D2 team was the fastest team you've ever seen then holy ****...

I didn't write that it was the fastest team I've ever seen. I wrote that I don't think I've ever seen a I-AA/FCS team that was quicker and faster. That's saying they are as fast as any I-AA/FCS team I've seen McNeese play.

I also wrote that I think UNI is better and that UNI will do a lot better job of getting after McNeese's quarterback than West Alabama did.

I don't know why some people find it so hard to believe that good D-II teams can play with good FCS teams. It's happened repeatedly over time including a number of instances in which D-II teams severely tested teams that went on to win I-AA/FCS national titles. Even one case where one BEAT a team that went on to win the I-AA national title. Just because it's a D-II team doesn't automatically make it an easy opponent.

We'll know more as the season goes on. McNeese has to play UNI, Central Arkansas, and Sam Houston State in three consecutive games now. West Alabama plays a good D-II team in Delta State next then #1 ranked Valdosta State after that. But right now it's not a stretch at all to say that the reason McNeese barely got by West Alabama is that West Alabama is a really good D-II team. I think UNI is better than any team McNeese has played this season. In fact I started this thread with a post in which I said I think UNI is the best team on McNeese's schedule. But I also think West Alabama is better than some FCS teams currently in the Sports Network top 25. I think it's a pretty darned good football team. McNeese was not playing a "cupcake" or a "rent a win."

[clenz]

Is that d2 still the fastest and most athletic team you've ever seen play MSU? 17-0 in the second quarter, and that's with a missed fg in the first by UNIand a failed 4th and goal in the second


Which even if it isn't us is still hard to believe with SHSU the Kay 2 years and this year...

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[clenz]

31 to 6 in the 3rd...

10 points left on the field by UNI too

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[Gil Dobie]

Is that d2 still the fastest and most athletic team you've ever seen play MSU? 17-0 in the second quarter, and that's with a missed fg in the first by UNIand a failed 4th and goal in the second


Which even if it isn't us is still hard to believe with SHSU the Kay 2 years and this year...

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Same legendary southern speed we've heard about for years up north

Valley is going to be a battle this year with UNI back in play.

[clenz]

38 to 6 with 11 left in game

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[clenz]

41 6 5 min left

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[Bison Fan in NW MN]

41 6 5 min left

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Is UNI just physically pounding them?

McNeese is overrated or is UNI just playing lights out?

[clenz]

UNI played like they did against Iowa State and drake..really about par for the year

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[Trapped in CA]

Thought it would be a better matchup than it turned out to be. I was expecting more points out of McNeese - but that team was thoroughly smoked. UNI has plenty of things to work on - especially short distance conversation. Could have been much worse for the Cowboys.

[Gil Dobie]

Congrats Panthers!

[EWURanger]

Nice win, congrats UNI.


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[clenz]

41 6 5 min left

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Is UNI just physically pounding them?

McNeese is overrated or is UNI just playing lights out?

UNI didn't really play any different than we have the first couple games. We were a little more aggressive than against UNC/Drake but in terms of execution were similar.

The game was frustrating to watch at times with the penalties/failed short conversions but then you'd look up and see it was 17-0 or 38-6 and go "Damn...I wouldn't have guessed it to be that lopsided."

UNI dominated every aspect of the game really. The first drive that McNeese had caught UNI off guard some. We knew they were fast but it takes a second to get used to the speed, and they caught us with the fly/jet sweep action. That drive stalled out and after that the boat race was on.

It was 17-0 at half and UNI missed a FG and went for it on 4th and goal and didn't get it. It was actually quite frustrating to watch at times in the first half. Easily could have been 24/28-0 at half. Sawyer got the passing game going, but we struggled to get DJ going like we probably wanted too....that needs to be addressed before next week. He only had 86 yards on 16 carries (a meager 5.4 yards per carry for him this week) although he also had 6 catches for 108 yards and 2 TD's (18 yards per catch). He is honestly twice the weapon that Zenner is.

The stats really tell the story of the game

Rushing
UNI 37 for 159 (4.4 ypc)
MSU 32 for 109 (3.4 ypc) and after their first drive it was probably closer to 2.5 ypc as they had 23% of their rush yards on that drive)

Passing
UNI 17-28 307 yards 3 TD 0 INT (11 yards per attempt 18.1 yards per completion)
MSU 17-31 171 yards 1 TD 0 INT (5.5 yards per attempt 10.1 yards per completion)

Total yards
UNI 466 total yards on 65 plays (7.2 yards per play)
MSU 280 yards on 63 plays (4.4 yards per play) - 20 of those yards came against the 2's on the last drive of the game

UNI recovered 3 fumbles from MSU
Won the TOP
Scored in 5-7 redzone appearances (missed FG and failed 4th and goal)



What concerns me going into next week is some of the injuries we picked up tonight.

TE Sam Rohr came back from dislocating his elbow against Iowa State...and probably tore his ACL. Looked bad.

QB/RB/WR/KR/PR Brion Carnes went head first into the wall behind the endzone after scoring (thanks to a nice extra push from a defender - not ill intended I don't believe though) at TD in the second. They brought the stretcher onto the field but he walked to the bench under his own power - and later to the locker room before half. I was standing in the north end-zone above where the players go the locker room - there is no chance he knew where the fuck he was at. I'd bet it was a grade 3 concussion - I doubt he plays next week.

Starting NT Xavier Williams went out in the first half with an ankle/foot injury. He didn't ask for help getting off the field, just hobbled off. I'd bet it's a sprain (hope that's all it is) and he'll be back next week - though at 6'6 310 lbs a sprain might not be easy to come back from quickly.

Starting WR Phil Wright - don't know what happened but he left the game and didn't come back in. He walked to the training room with a trainer and came back on with a small boot on. It wasn't a full boot, it was like a massive ankle brace is a better term I guess...IDK. He'd probably be good to go next week.


We need all of them if we can get them. If not, well we go with who we got.

[htownbearkat]

If a D2 team was the fastest team you've ever seen then holy ****...

I didn't write that it was the fastest team I've ever seen. I wrote that I don't think I've ever seen a I-AA/FCS team that was quicker and faster. That's saying they are as fast as any I-AA/FCS team I've seen McNeese play.

I also wrote that I think UNI is better and that UNI will do a lot better job of getting after McNeese's quarterback than West Alabama did.

I don't know why some people find it so hard to believe that good D-II teams can play with good FCS teams. It's happened repeatedly over time including a number of instances in which D-II teams severely tested teams that went on to win I-AA/FCS national titles. Even one case where one BEAT a team that went on to win the I-AA national title. Just because it's a D-II team doesn't automatically make it an easy opponent.

We'll know more as the season goes on. McNeese has to play UNI, Central Arkansas, and Sam Houston State in three consecutive games now. West Alabama plays a good D-II team in Delta State next then #1 ranked Valdosta State after that. But right now it's not a stretch at all to say that the reason McNeese barely got by West Alabama is that West Alabama is a really good D-II team. I think UNI is better than any team McNeese has played this season. In fact I started this thread with a post in which I said I think UNI is the best team on McNeese's schedule. But I also think West Alabama is better than some FCS teams currently in the Sports Network top 25. I think it's a pretty darned good football team. McNeese was not playing a "cupcake" or a "rent a win."

John has no capacity to give any credit to the bearkats. it makes him ill. John did you see the EWU game today? Directional Bama top three play makers still better than Flanders, Sincere and Bell?

[htownbearkat]

Very Nice Win Panthers!

[clenz]

It's fun watching JSO back track saying he never said that WA was the fastest/most athletic team he'd ever seen...and that UNI would only be as good/"better" but not more athletic/faster

But they're not going to see a faster, more athletic one than they saw when they played West Alabama. Not going to happen.

What's your though on that now John?

I'll go with you on the "better" part but I really don't know about that more athletic part.

What did you mean by "better"? Why the ""? Didn't think we'd be better than a fucking D2?

I haven't seen UNI play but I honestly don't think I've ever seen a I-AA/FCS team faster and quicker than that West Alabama team is.

Ah...the quote you said you never said....quoting is a bitch, huh?

And McNeese does have fast skill players.

I'll give you that. The jet/fly sweep look caught UNI looking the first 5-6 plays of the game...after that your guys looked no faster than SIU/YSU and slower than UNI fo sho

[clenz]

I don't wear D-I blinders. I think it is possible for a D2 to catch lightning in a bottle and be better than a good chunk of I-AA teams. Just like I know that it is possible for a I-AA to be better than a good chunk of I-A teams. Granted, I don't think that the former happens near as often as the latter, but I think it is possible.

I'm not either.

Northwest Missouri State, Valdosta State, Delta State, MSU-Mankato CSU-Pueblo, etc... could all beat probably half of the FCS teams out there. I'd say most Ivy, Patriot, Pioneer (okay, all of them), Big South, SWAC, MEAC, NEC, and OVC teams, along with the bottom feeders of the SoCon, CAA, Big Sky, and MVFC. Some of them have already proven that.

Shit, look at Winston-Salem...terrible D1 program, drops back to D2 and they dominate almost instantly....granted the D2 ball on the east coast has nothing on the middle part of the country and WSSU likely wouldn't have that success in the MIAA.

However, I will almost never believe that a D2 is "better" than a top 10 FCS program. Athletic is, quite frankly, an extremely objective term.

[htownbearkat]

It's fun watching JSO back track saying he never said that WA was the fastest/most athletic team he'd ever seen...and that UNI would only be as good/"better" but not more athletic/faster

But they're not going to see a faster, more athletic one than they saw when they played West Alabama. Not going to happen.

What's your though on that now John?

I'll go with you on the "better" part but I really don't know about that more athletic part.

What did you mean by "better"? Why the ""? Didn't think we'd be better than a **** D2?

I haven't seen UNI play but I honestly don't think I've ever seen a I-AA/FCS team faster and quicker than that West Alabama team is.

Ah...the quote you said you never said....quoting is a bitch, huh?

And McNeese does have fast skill players.

I'll give you that. The jet/fly sweep look caught UNI looking the first 5-6 plays of the game...after that your guys looked no faster than SIU/YSU and slower than UNI fo sho

For a very smart guy John is really just a true blue homer. he jumped the shark though with his West Bama fanboy rant. Everything is right in the world tonight. UNI and SHSU showed that the SLC is really a one horse conference atm.

[clenz]

To be fair, the MSU fans I talked with at the Dome were awesome people!

Also, I thought the targeting ejection against #21 was complete horseshit. Penalty yes, ejection worthy - no

[Trapped in CA]

To be fair, the MSU fans I talked with at the Dome were awesome people!

Also, I thought the targeting ejection against #21 was complete horseshit. Penalty yes, ejection worthy - no

The ejection call against the MSU DB was weak sauce.

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[clenz]

My favorite play of the night...the angle doesn't really show just how hard David truck sticked the guy to get into the endzone...

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZOhYI9YDimA[/youtube]

[JohnStOnge]

41 6 5 min left

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Is UNI just physically pounding them?

McNeese is overrated or is UNI just playing lights out?

I thought going in that UNI is very good and I am hoping that what went on with McNeese is an example of a good team having a bad game. It happens.

One game I always think about when hoping that was the case as I'm hoping now is the 1994 NFL game between the San Fransisco 49ers and the Philadelphia Eagles. It was the 49ers' 5th game of the season and the Eagles' 4th game. I happened to watch it.. Philadelphia won 40-6. It's been about 19 years so I don't remember the details but I remember thinking that it was no fluke on that day. Philadelphia just dominated. If all one had to go on was watching that game one would say the Eagles were the better team and it wasn't close.

Yet San Fransisco went on to finish 16-3, including beating San Diego 49-26 in the Super Bowl, while Philadelphia ended up 7-9 and not making the playoffs. Not that I think that sort of thing is going to happen to UNI. Don't think that's likely. But I can hope that the awful game McNeese had yesterday is not a true indication of the team they have.

Another one that's actually painful to contemplate is remembering watching McNeese thump Western Kentucky 38-14 during the 2002 regular season only to see Western Kentucky go on the win the national title with a 34-14 win over McNeese in the national championship game. And the 38-14 game was no fluke either. McNeese totally dominated. Score could've been bigger if they'd wanted it to be.

But, we'll see. At Central Arkansas next with Central Arkansas having had an open date this week and playing on their atrocious purple and grey field where they haven't lost yet. Too bad McNeese will go without a starting safety for the first half because he got dinged by that targeting penalty in the second half yesterday when the game was out of hand.

[JohnStOnge]

BTW the sliver lining is that I am now REALLY glad I didn't spend about $700 to go up there and watch that in person.

[JohnStOnge]

John has no capacity to give any credit to the bearkats. it makes him ill. John did you see the EWU game today? Directional Bama top three play makers still better than Flanders, Sincere and Bell?

I don't know why you interpreted the post to which you responded as not giving credit the BearKats. I did not see Sam Houston State play Eastern Washington today but if I compare what Sam Houston State had last year in terms of wide receivers to what West Alabama has this year, yes, I would say West Alabama has a better overall set of skill players. I think their quarterback is better than Bell and I think their wide receivers are better. And they've got running backs comparable to Flanders. One of them is that guy on the Senior Bowl watch list. The other is a sophomore who is very quick in tight spaces...has that "Barry Sanders" looking ability...and is reportedly 10.3 in the 100 meters.

Just going on those two, Flanders averaged 8.5 yards per carry against McNeese in 2011 and 5.5 in 2012. Sincere averaged 3.5 and 11.0. In their one game against McNeese this year, West Alabama's 10.3 sophomore averaged 8.3 and the guy on the Senior Bowl Watch list averaged 8.9. So it's not unreasonable at all for a McNeese fan having watched all of those players play the Cowboys to see them as comparable.

I don't know if you've seen West Alabama play but if you did and you were objective I think you would recognize that saying West Alabama has a better overall set of skill players than Sam Houston State does is not unreasonable. You might still disagree because you're a Sam Houston State fan but you wouldn't think it's unreasonable.

[htownbearkat]

John has no capacity to give any credit to the bearkats. it makes him ill. John did you see the EWU game today? Directional Bama top three play makers still better than Flanders, Sincere and Bell?

I don't know why you interpreted the post to which you responded as not giving credit the BearKats. I did not see Sam Houston State play Eastern Washington today but if I compare what Sam Houston State had last year in terms of wide receivers to what West Alabama has this year, yes, I would say West Alabama has a better overall set of skill players. I think their quarterback is better than Bell and I think their wide receivers are better. And they've got running backs comparable to Flanders. One of them is that guy on the Senior Bowl watch list. The other is a sophomore who is very quick in tight spaces...has that "Barry Sanders" looking ability...and is reportedly 10.3 in the 100 meters.

Just going on those two, Flanders averaged 8.5 yards per carry against McNeese in 2011 and 5.5 in 2012. Sincere averaged 3.5 and 11.0. In their one game against McNeese this year, West Alabama's 10.3 sophomore averaged 8.3 and the guy on the Senior Bowl Watch list averaged 8.9. So it's not unreasonable at all for a McNeese fan having watched all of those players play the Cowboys to see them as comparable.

I don't know if you've seen West Alabama play but if you did and you were objective I think you would recognize that saying West Alabama has a better overall set of skill players than Sam Houston State does is not unreasonable. You might still disagree because you're a Sam Houston State fan but you wouldn't think it's unreasonable.

Take it to the grave John. So, If Tim Flanders wins the Payton award this year there should be an * by his name because there is a DII back at west bama that would of won because hes better?
The #1 OFF in FCS < Directional bama off do you know how silly you sound?

[Cap'n Cat]

Cap'n Cat was living in New Orleans in 1987 and took the swampy drive to Lake Charles to see the very first game in this series. UNI won.